Make digital rights as basic as human rights, say CTOs

The chief technology officers of Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York have launched a joint initiative to better protect peoples’ digital rights.

The Cities Coalition for Digital Rights consists of five key points that cover universal Internet access; privacy, data protections and security; transparency and accountability; participatory democracy; and open and ethical digital standards.

The declaration says that human rights principles such as privacy, freedom of expression, and democracy must be incorporated by design into digital platforms, starting with locally-controlled digital infrastructures and services.

“This is a global framework that puts citizens’ rights at the centre of th...